A Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, has granted leave to Isale Eko Descendants Union to seek an order compelling Lagos State Video and Film Censors Board to impose a ₦10 Billion fine against the Gangs of Lagos Producers for the wrongful depiction of Isale Eko as a Den of Criminals and the Eyo Masquerade as a Gang of Murderers.
The Court has also allowed Isale Eko Descendants Union to apply for judicial review and seek an order of mandamus directing the Attorney General of Lagos State and Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board to sanction the Film Producers under the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State.
The presiding Judge, Justice Idowu Alakija, recently granted the leave for judicial review in an ex-parte application brought pursuant to section 3 of the Cinematograph Law of Lagos State and Order 44 Rule 3 of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules.
Alakija granted the leave after hearing arguments of Counsel for Isale Eko Descendants Union and two others, Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN), Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), Mr. Aderemi Bashua (SAN), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, Akinwale Irokosu and Adesamola Alebiosu, Temi Tayo-Tiwo, Oyinkansola Tunde-Braimoh among others.
The Applicants comprise Isale Eko Descendants’ Union, Chief Ayodele Bajulaiye, who sued on behalf of the Bajulaiye Chieftaincy Family and Eyo Iga Bajulaiye, and Chief Abdul-Waheed Ayeni who sued on behalf of the Sasore Chieftaincy Family and Eyo Iga Sasore.
They are challenging Mrs. Jadesola Soberu, Ms. Kemi Lala Akindoju, Mr. Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Mr. Olumide Soyombo, Mr Bankole Wellington, Mrs. Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Mr. Kola Aina, Greoh Limited and Amazon Web Services Nigeria for alleged sacrilegious and scandalous depiction of the Eyo Masquerade as a Gang of Criminals, Assassins and Murderers in a Movie production titled “Gangs of Lagos”.